A bizarre resurgence begins with a pact made by a weasel.

Phoenix!!

Aren't these fantastical creatures from my previous life on Earth?!

Xie Qing stared at the man and bird in the flames and fell into deep thought.

In the original owner's memory, this fat and bloated priest was named Andrew, and was the resident priest of Donghai County.

The other party is from Gwangju and worships a goddess named Grus. As for other information, the original owner does not know much.

Xie Qing, unwilling to give up, asked:

What is a phoenix?

"It is a kind of mythical bird from the West, which loves heat and fire and can be reborn from fire."

"Are you sure this isn't describing the Vermilion Bird or Phoenix of our Linzhou?"

"nonsense!"

Therefore,

This world is not only filled with extraordinary powers in the Eastern Continent, but also among Westerners.

"Are the gods enshrined in that church even real?!"

"certainly."

Seeing Xie Qing's furrowed brows, Huang Yu unusually composed himself, even appearing somewhat dejected:

"Otherwise, why do you think we can't beat those foreign devils?"

"Those messy letters and symbols, there are plenty of people in Linzhou who can learn them, and cannons and gunpowder can be bought with money. We lost because of these gods and immortals."

Xie Qing was stunned:

"The immortals of Linzhou are no match for those of Guangzhou?"

A hint of mockery flashed in Huang Jue's eyes. Before Xie Qing could ask further, she changed her expression, crossed her arms, and urged:

"Anyway, I'm determined to eat this chicken."

"Besides, this is a good thing for you too."

Seeing Xie Qing's lack of interest, she had no choice but to add:

"If I consume it, my strength will be further enhanced, and I will be more confident in obtaining the Tripartite Holy Grail."

"You don't want to lose the match, do you? The loser could be beheaded!"

Xie Qing wasn't easily intimidated.

He refused outright:

"Stop dreaming. Since the other party is not an ordinary person, this request is beyond my ability and does not comply with the agreement Xie Lan made with you."

"Don't rush to refuse." Huang Jue paced back and forth on the windowsill on tiptoe. "Andrew doesn't possess any superhuman strength; he's just an ordinary priest."

"That bird is a bit troublesome, but I have a way to deal with it."

"That won't work either."

Xie Qing mocked:

"Foreigners' things are indeed valuable. If this chicken goes missing, the authorities will be able to trace it back to us very quickly."

Huang Jue took a deep breath, as if she had made a huge decision. She rubbed her hands together tightly, then opened her palms, and a copper pea appeared inside.

"These are prickly pear beans. Consuming them will grant you a miraculous ability—the Bone Ringing Lock."

The beans shimmered with a faint glow, and even Xie Qing, with his sharp mind, felt a little dazed at this moment.

He didn't come to his senses until the panel appeared.

[A Marvelous Item - Fairy Beans]

[This magical bean contains supernatural powers and secret techniques. Consuming it grants the user the spell "Bone Ring Lock (F+)," which shrinks the skeletal frame while increasing strength and endurance. Each cast lasts for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.]

[Item Level: F+]

If the remaining six locks could be collected, perhaps a superior divine power could be formed.

Xie Qing picked up a bean; the other party had really gone all out.

"So you want me to change my form, sneak into the church, and steal the phoenix?"

"Or you could make a deal with that priest."

Huang Jue looked puzzled, and even made a prayer-like gesture:

"I heard that pig loves cute boys the most. You're so handsome, you'll definitely please him when you shrink. He'll be so happy that he'll give you that chicken."

Holy crap!

This is asking me to sell my ass!

You really have wild ideas!

Xie Qing touched her pert buttocks and was speechless.

but,

That's an extraordinary skill!

It was something he had always dreamed of.

"Shrinking your body size, wouldn't that be considered reversing aging?"

You wish!

Xie Qing eventually accepted the prickly pear bean.

"However, I still feel it's not enough."

"You have to pay more."

······

After much more arguing, the two finally reached an agreement, and Xie Qing returned downstairs.

He pinched a bean and put it in his mouth.

Don't be fooled by how hard these beans are; they actually melt in your mouth.

Before he could even taste it, the effects were already apparent.

There was a click.

A crisp sound rang out from the top of the skull, like a string of firecrackers spreading from head to toe, every inch of bone was chirping and trembling.

No wonder it's called Bone-Ringing Lock; the name is quite fitting.

Xie Qing looked at herself in the mirror and realized that she had indeed become smaller.

She had reverted from her early twenties to her thirteen or fourteen years old. Although her physique had shrunk, her strength had increased considerably.

Xie Qing slammed his hammer down.

Boom!

The dressing table shattered into pieces, but my palm only felt a slight stinging sensation.

At the same time, the properties on the panel have also changed.

Name: Xie Qing

Race: Human

[Faction: Linzhou - Heretical Path]

Job Rank: None

[Level: F+ (F)]

[Special Skill: Bone Ring Lock F+ (Active)]

[Attributes: Strength E-(F), Root E+, Resistance E-(F), Spirit F, Agility F (F-)]

[Secret Treasure: None]

[Note: While Bone Ring Lock is active, it will slightly increase Strength and Endurance levels, and Agility will also change depending on body size.]

Xie Qing estimated that he was in good enough shape to handle four or five strong men.

He then walked to the table, where origami provided by Huang Jue was placed.

A paper gun, a paper dagger, and a tuft of blond hair.

The gun has ten bullets, the dagger can cut through iron like mud, and the blond-haired man can stir up gusts of demonic wind to confuse the five senses of living beings.

With these three things, Xie Qing was confident in exploring the church.

He reached out and touched the three items, storing them in the system's built-in storage space.

The next day.

As Xie Qing stepped out of the park, a rickshaw came towards him.

"Young master, please get in the car."

The driver was also blond and looked like he had just come of age.

"······"

This art style clearly belongs to Huang Jue's underlings.

"What's your name?"

My humble name is Huang Qi.

The driver quickly wiped the seat with the towel around his neck and said respectfully:

"Our ancestors instructed us to make sure you get into the church, young master. We will arrange several transfers along the way, and absolutely no one will be able to detect your whereabouts."

"Let's go then."

"Okay!"

The driver shouted and pulled the pole, jogging forward.

This era is somewhat similar to the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican era on Earth.

Both regions experienced a decline in the West, but the East was called Linzhou, while the continents inhabited by foreigners were called Guangzhou and Yuzhou.

Xie Qing looked out of the car. All the pedestrians he saw along the way were short and thin. Those who were slightly taller and fair-skinned were almost all sitting in rickshaws. Occasionally, he could see a few cars rushing by.

A few stalls were scattered along both sides of the road, but the most prosperous shops were of only three types: brothels, opium dens, and gambling dens.

The brothels were mostly frequented by foreigners, while the opium dens and gambling dens were almost entirely frequented by locals from Linzhou. Xie Qing couldn't help but shake his head.

When the rickshaw arrived at the secluded woods near the church, Xie Qing activated the Bone Ring Lock in advance, instantly transforming his originally tall physique into that of a young boy.

After changing into another rickshaw, he arrived at the church entrance. As soon as he stepped off the rickshaw, an elderly nun came to greet him.

"Young man, are you here to pray? Where are your parents?"

Xie Qing rubbed her eyes and said timidly:

"They are sick, and I would like to ask the priest for some holy water for them."

The coachman standing nearby couldn't help but sigh:

"The child's parents have caught it...sigh."

The nun's eyes lit up at the words that seemed to say something more.

A family that would become addicted to opium and cause trouble for their children could not possibly be a powerful or wealthy family in the county. Xie Qing's ordinary clothes further confirmed the nun's judgment.

This is a top-quality tribute!

She gently stroked Xie Qing's cheek and said:

"Poor child, the goddess will protect your parents."

"The priest will also pray for you."

Xie Qing sneered inwardly. He did not resist and was led inside by the nun.

Walking through the porch into the courtyard, Xie Qing noticed a sculpture about ten feet tall.

She was a voluptuous woman wearing a cloak, the brim of which obscured most of her face.

"This is Her Majesty the Supreme Goddess Grus, the great being who governs [trade] and [fiat currency]."

The nun whispered in his ear:

"Under the radiance of the goddess, everything in this world can be exchanged."

Even health and life.

She gently pushed Xie Qing towards the central hall.

"Go on, the priest is waiting for you inside."